Salford has 131 new coronavirus cases, up from the previous day's 122, bringing the cumulative total to 16,160. The seven day average of cases has increased to 772, up from 723, while the seven day rate per 100,000 population now stands at 298.3, up from 279.3.
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, the seven day average of cases in Bury is 676 (up from 642), with a seven day rate per 100,000 population of 353.9 (up from 336.1); Bolton 749 (up from 719), with a rate of 260.5 (up from 250); Manchester 1,798 (up from 1,689), with a rate of 325.2 (up from 305.5); and Oldham 692 (Up from 648), with a rate of 291.8 (up from 273.3).
Rochdale has a seven day average of cases of 696 (up from 650), with a seven day rate of 312.9 (up from 292.3); Stockport 1,029 (up from 969), with a rate of 350.7 (up from 330.2); Tameside 650 (up from 608), with a rate of 287 (up from 268.4); Trafford 865 (up from 825), with a rate of 364.4 (up from 347.6); and Wigan 1,168 (up from 1,092), with a rate of 355.4 (up from 332.3).
The prevalence of the virus in Greater Manchester is rising but is still below the national average.
There have been two new virus-related deaths at Salford Royal Hospital.
Meanwhile, at the GM Leaders press conference yesterday, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham re-launched the GM Tech Fund, after revealing that an estimated one in five young learners, or 100,000, do not have regular digital access...
"They are now slipping backwards and it's urgent that we plug that gap" he explained, adding that around half of those will get support. After the Government announced new measures to help, Burnham reckons that between 15,000 and 20,000 young people will still not have a device or data for access to work remotely. He asked business to come forward and help donate devices, dongles and finance via the Fund.
Burnham has also written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, asking that the newly self-employed, who were locked out of previous Government financial support, now be included in the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), when they submit this year's tax returns...
"You and your Ministers have always been clear that the biggest barrier to inclusion for this group was the absence of a complete tax return for HMRC to verify trading profits and mitigate against the risk of fraud" he wrote "As you will be aware, the self-assessment deadline for filing a return for the tax year 2019-20 is 31st January 2021. As this is the first tax return that this group will file, the reason which you and your Ministers have given to refuse access to SEISS now falls away.
"Fairness now requires that you make a public commitment at the earliest opportunity to include this cohort within the SEISS" he added "All those who started trading in 2019-20, or whose main source of income became self-employment in that year, should be included in the fourth grant of the SEISS and their information used to backdate payments for the first three tranches in order to provide parity with the rest of the eligible self-employed population.
"This would be the right thing to do and would provide much needed support to those facing continued financial hardship through no fault of their own" he concluded "The newly self-employed have faced the same struggles over the last year as those with a longer history of self-employment and should be offered the same treatment as a result..."
And Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, is also writing to the Government today, as GM Housing Lead, asking it to extend the ban on evictions while the pandemic is ongoing. Even with all the schemes to help the homeless during the crisis, Burnham described the situation as "challenging"...
See also last night's article - Greater Manchester Health System In Danger of 'Falling Over' Says GM Health Lead - click here
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